Writes Professor Samantha Kothare that in the race for marks, one must remember that the marks do not decide one’s worth on this planet.
One thing some of us are scared about is letting our parents, or elders know about our marks, especially when they are low. Though advices to not over react negatively and criticize for the marks students score are being given to parents regularly, these days, yet we do see a lacuna in the communication between some parents and students when it comes to discussing examination scores.
On the internet, there are so many memes about how Indian parents react to their children’s grades in school – the comparison with siblings, or what-would-people-say about the marks kids scores often bothers some.
I, especially, love this video by Superwoman a.k.a Lilly Singh on ‘How to tell your parents bad news’. If the marks are great then parents are on the cloud nine, but if the child has scored badly, well, let’s just say the kid will be compared to his neighbors, second cousin’s kid as to how well they have done.
Not long ago, when I was a student, getting 75% marks in the “boards” was a great achievement, but these days looking at students who score 99% in their exams and cry about losing that one mark makes me think: is it those marks that really define who one is?
Years ago, if a student chose Science, it was but natural that he would be either a Doctor or an Engineer, according to the then “invented societal norms”. Scoring above 90% meant that that child was meant to be a Doctor. No other career option would suit her, or at least this would be told to the child. But in the last couple of years there has been a tremendous change in the mentality of parents and students. My friends who have completed their studies in Statistics, Biology, Economics are successful photographers, makeup artist and movie directors today. Even after scoring high marks in exams children these days are choosing to pick up a career they are passionate about, which is a really welcoming change our society is witnessing.
Getting good marks in exams is important, but it definitely does not define who you are or what you will be in future. Has anyone so-far been able to predict exactly what is about to happen for one in the future? It is also quite a fact
Prof. Samantha Kothare
that the very world we are part of is having a sundry of people who have excelled and are doing amazingly well in their life, though they were, what most of us would have called, “mediocre” in studies. This doesn’t mean one should totally neglect studies. In today’s competitive world, getting a good educational qualification is of extreme importance, however, if one doesn’t perform well, one shouldn’t get disappointed and depressed, but aim to score better and, most importantly, accept the scored marks.
In the race for marks, one must remember that the marks do not decide one’s worth on this planet.
Like all of us are different from one another, our marks, performance level, IQ is different too. And essentially, our choices and pros and cons are different too. So, it doesn’t mean if one is good at studies and scores well, another one has to score or perform similarly. Everyone will perform at a different level, like every sport has one winner. In fact, there have been instances, wherein IIT’ians have become authors, doctors have become actors and singers and bankers have turned artists. And after all, in a world where an IITian can become a best selling author anything is possible.
I remember reading these fascinating lines from a poem by Douglas Malloh. Would like to share them with you all too.
‘If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun, be a star,
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail
Be the best of whatever you are’
Do what you like, follow your dreams, follow your passion, as ‘take the road not taken’, don’t let your marks depress you, be optimistic and success and happiness will surely follow you.
Ms Samantha Kothare is a professor with the prestigious Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, Mumbai. She loves writing, travelling, cooking and establishing a good link with her students.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Spectralhues is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the article do not reflect the views of Spectralhues and Spectralhues does not take any responsibility or liability for the same.
